Signs of a Wildlife Infestation and How to Prevent It

As we head into the cooler seasons, just like humans, animals are looking for warmth and a place to call home--and wildlife are no exception! Nuisance wildlife like rodents, squirrels, raccoons, and skunks find their way into homes just like yours all the time. While these unwanted visitors are clearly not welcome, that doesn’t stop them from coming in uninvited!

Sharing your home with wildlife means exposure to diseases, damage to your home and wiring, unwanted stress, and more. And even though you may not see them, there’s a chance they could still be there. These pesky creatures put your family, your pets, and your living area in danger.

Common Wildlife in the Houston area

While wildlife varies according to your home, neighborhood, and the time of the year, the most common wildlife found in the Houston area include:

Signs of a Wildlife Infestation

While you’re likely not going to find these type of animals just wandering around your kitchen or living area, that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. These type of animals are more likely to be found in quiet, undisturbed areas such as your basement, attic, and garage. Aside from contaminating food and spreading germs and diseases, they can also destroy the electrical wiring and insulation of your home. Some of the most common signs of a wildlife infestation include:

• Squeaking or scratching noises coming from your walls or attic
• Rustling noises coming from under your home or deck
• Unusual noises that are typically louder at night or at dusk
• Garbage cans turned over and trash scattered around
• Urine stains on ceilings or floors that are brown and have a strong odor
• Feces droppings around your home that are small and brown
• Wood chips or gnaw marks on electrical wiring or walls

If you have noticed any of these signs in or around your home, there’s a chance you have a wildlife infestation on your hands!

Five Ways to Keep Wildlife Out of Your Home

While we can all appreciate animals in the wild, that doesn’t mean we want them in our home! You know what they say -- an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Here are five ways you can prevent nuisance wildlife from making your home their home:

1. Keep kitchen and living areas free of food and crumbs. All pests - wildlife included - are looking for food sources. In order to keep their food sources to a minimum, be sure to regularly vacuum and sweep your floors, and keep the garage free of food or trash. You don’t want to leave a crumb trail for critters to follow!
2. Ensure food is securely covered and stored. Again, these animals are looking for food to feast on, so make sure there isn’t any easy access for them to. Pay special attention to pantries, drawers, and cabinets. Any food that is stored in these areas should be covered, secure, and hard to access. And most importantly, don’t forget to properly store dog and cat food too!
3. Don’t let garbage sit, and make sure it is properly covered. This is important both inside your house and outside. If you’re the type to leave a bag of garbage in front of your door, you could be inviting pests and animals inside. Be sure to keep garbage in a trash can, and if you have a lid, make sure it is always covered.
4. Repair holes and cracks in your house. Wildlife use small holes and cracks as easy entryways to enter a home. Small rats can fit their bodies into a hole the size of a quarter -- so be sure to seal any holes and cracks in your home, especially near entry and exit points. Your chimney, in particular, is something to keep an eye on. Without a cap, it’s an open hole welcoming critters, so be certain your chimney is covered.
5. Clean your entire home, even areas that are difficult to reach. You may be leaving behind crumbs and food sources in areas you wouldn’t even think of, like behind appliances, pantry shelves, between counters, and places you can’t visibly see. These hard to reach areas, which may go unnoticed, are some of wildlife’s favorite places.

Let Us Handle Your Wildlife Problems

Because wildlife can be extremely dangerous -- carrying deadly diseases and biting if they feel threatened -- we don’t recommend trying to handle a wildlife problem on your own. If you suspect a wildlife invasion in your home, call us immediately and we can be at your home in no time to eliminate the wildlife infestation. We offer same and next-day emergency services to get your wildlife problem under control as fast as possible!